Social Media Inventory Control

Kenneth (Ken) Ray Abbott

**** ***** ****, ******, ** 60506

**********************@*****.***

Mobile: 630-***-****

Basic Skills: Decades of experience in retail and event operations, marketing, warehouse, inventory, office, and personnel management from restaurants to retail and home service companies. Experience building sales and training materials, tracking tools, inventory control, fleet management, and building a strong leadership or professional culture.

Leadership Skills: Ability to delegate, inspire and motivate, as well as conflict management. Strategic thinking, decision making and problem solving. Effective communication, and emotional intelligence. With flexibility and ability to quickly pivot. Strong organization and work ethic. Great teamwork mindset and interpersonal relationship skills. Strong leadership, with communication and coaching abilities. Also comfortable with training and public speaking.

LEADER = Lead by example, Effort, Attitude, Dedication, Empower, & Respect

Experienced with event planning, social media, website platforms and online strategies such as Google Business, Yelp,(Meta) Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and other media tools. Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other similar tools, as well as online programs such as QuickBooks, HR tools, calendars, and payroll applications.

Experience:

November 2008 to Current – Globetrotter Media Group / Globetrotter Sports (Aurora, IL)

(Self Employed) Special Events Coordinator, Marketing Consultant, Media Consultant, and PR Consultant Marketing and PR firm created to support various business ventures including, but not limited to:

● Creative media, podcast and radio hosting, script writing, direction, and production.

● Media and PR support, press releases, website development, and social media.

● Manufacture and vendor consultation and business strategies.

● Advertising campaign development, promotional items, and printing.

● Television production consultation and general online media strategy execution.

● New business development and marketing strategies.

● General athlete / team management and team building strategist.

● Athlete, sponsorship, and team agency representation.

2018 to Current – Public Address (Motorcycle Race) Announcer / Race Commentator / On-Air Radio Talent Moto-America (Professional Racing Series), ASRA (American Superbike Racing Assn) + Daytona Int’l Speedway The public address racing event announcer conveys all the pre-race information to the competitors and fans, while handling the overall fan experience for at the racetrack facility. During on-track race activity, the announcer will perform pre and post-race and pit road interviews with teams and athletes, as well as read vendor and sponsor advertising copy and discuss current promotions. In addition, the announcer handles the live event, turn by turn race call, describing the excitement of what is happening around the racetrack, and bringing each event to a thrilling finish. Because most regional race events are not televised, the trick is to be overly descriptive, to help the fans understand what is happening around the track, even if they cannot see the action for themselves. It’s treated like a radio program from 7am-5pm.

October 2016 to Feb 2024 – Harmonic HVAC Heating & Air Conditioning (Naperville, Crystal Lake, Libertyville, IL) Marketing & Promotions Manager as well as Operations & Logistics Manager, Warehouse & Fleet Manager

● Assisted HVAC company growth from $750k to $2.5M, added Home Services (home renovation) company in 2018. Helped manage acquisition of PE with expansion to 2nd HVAC company and plumbing company, to build a total $10M company with over 50 employees and fleet vehicles.

● Manage sales and marketing, customer service incentives, and interact with regional Chamber of Commerce groups to generate leads and communicate current promotional programs. Manage website and social media.

● Manage daily operations including warehouse inventory, daily job equipment, budgeting and resource management. Manage over 20 fleet vehicles, maintenance, graphics, and inventory.

● Provide customer service and financial incentives, sales, marketing, web and social media content creation.

● Coordinate customer service, and advertising campaigns, social media / public relations, advertising, marketing, web support, and product tech writing.

● Coordinate trade show and public special event sales support, basic graphic design to support web and print advertising campaigns, as well as logo and branding development. March

2012 to October 2015 – Fox Valley Cycles (Aurora, IL) – Motorcycle, ATV, Powersports Dealership Motorcycle, ATV, & Powersports Sales Manager as well as Financing Manager

● Motorcycle & ATV Sales Manager - Oversee front house sales, marketing, promotions, and operations including staffing, training, vehicle inventory, budgeting and resource management.

● Implement dealership sales training and sales department goals.

● Motorcycle & ATV Finance Manager - Work with financial institutions, credit unions, banks, sub-prime lenders, insurance brokers, and companies to provide insurance and financing for customer purchases.

● Provide customer service and financial incentives, sales, and financing, merchandising, training, marketing, web and social media initiatives.

● Coordinate sales department management duties, customer service, and advertising campaigns, social media / public relations, advertising, marketing, web support, product tech writing.

● Coordinate motorcycle and power sports trade show and public special event sales support, basic graphic design to support web and print advertising.

Summer 2012 – Paddle & Trail (Aurora, Rockford, & Beloit, IL) – Kayak & Bicycle Sales & Rental Dealership Special Events Coordinator & Kayak Dealership Marketing, Aurora Location Asst Manager

● Dealer and special event media support, press releases, and social media.

● Advertising campaign development, promotional items, and printing.

● Special events coordinator for all locations (tournaments, river tours, demo days, new programs).

● Outdoor sport operations assistant (sales, rentals, logistics, inventory, customer service).

● Coordinate with vendors to promote outdoor sports and product demonstrations, and increase sales.

February 2004 to November 2008 – Live Nation Motor Sports Group (Aurora, IL) - (formerly Clear Channel, SFX, Pace) General Manager of Michael Jordan Motorsports Superbike (Motorcycle) Race Team Assembled and led the Michael Jordan superbike race team to a 2008 Superstock Class National Championship (finishing 1st and 2nd in points) in only 5 years, and accomplished goals that motorcycle industry “experts” said could never be done, consistently beating the $10M+ budget teams with less than $2M p/yr. Compete on the highest level of professional motorcycle racing in North America. Extensive domestic and international travel required. Developed a 2nd race team with an additional $2M of National Guard sponsorships, which launched in 2009. Worked with mainstream corporations such as Jordan Brand (a division of Nike), Hanes, Gatorade, Boost Mobile (a division of Sprint/Nextel), American Suzuki, Dunlop/Goodyear Tire, and the US National Guard on sponsorship activation, marketing, and media campaigns. Manage all facets of the racing business, team leadership, sponsorships, and press/public relations including:

● Set staff policies, procedures, perform annual reviews, and coordinate travel itineraries.

● Media / PR Director, public relations, writing press releases, web design (extensive experience with magazines, newspapers, radio and television media).

● Team and athlete sponsorships, uniform and merchandise creation, personal rider coach.

● Graphic design and merchandise sales.

● Logistics, travel, and event coordination, hospitality coordination (coordinate special domestic and international hospitality events for celebrity VIP groups).

● Negotiate facility and contractor agreements.

● Develop budgets, track spending, annual projections, and individual spending category analysis.

● Budget and resource management.

● Manage sponsor accounts, such as Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, Dunlop, Boost Mobile, and American Suzuki on marketing and promotional activation to ensure ROI and create investment value, improving sponsor retention.

February 2000 to November 2004 – Live Nation Motor Sports Group (Aurora, IL) - (formerly Clear Channel, SFX, Pace) Director Formula USA National (Motorcycle) Road Race Series Created and coordinated a national motorcycle road race championship (to rival AMA Pro Road Race Series) including;

● Creation and execution of competition purse and point funds.

● Regional and National event and series sponsorships, contingency programs, and partnerships.

● Coordinate race facilities, event staff, volunteers, and event schedules for regional and national events.

● Create competition rules, event regulations, and safety personnel training materials.

● Racing series and single event budget management, purse and point fund distribution.

● Team and athlete sponsorship activation, execution, and manage delivery expectations.

● Competition racing series advertising and event promotions (radio, TV, print, web). Director of National Motorcycle Road Race Series (Continued…)

● Team, Sponsor, and Athlete PR Manager, website design, media / public relations, writing of press releases.

● Negotiation and coordination for CBS Television production and broadcast. Script writing and coordination.

● Worked with industry manufacturers, series and team sponsors.

● Coordinated event (trackside) vendors, security, spectators, and competitors.

● Extensive domestic and international travel required.

● Part of Operations team at Donington Park Raceway in East Midlands, United Kingdom.

● Worked with 35 individual track operations departments and marketing teams.

October 1994 to February 2000 – Dunlop Race Tire Service (Nashville, TN) – Motorcycle Race Tire Supply Trackside Service Operations Manager (All Tracks East of Mississippi River)

● Implemented National event staff, training, team product coordination, quality control, customer service, and product support for all Eastern AMA Pro Superbike events.

● Warehouse inventory control and management, shipping and receiving

● Manage staffing and logistics, including transportation equipment

● Process / generate orders, shipping, and receiving

● Coordinate staff, inventory, and logistics for over 35 events per year

● Provide professional tire service at regional and national events

● Work with professional teams on final race tire selections

● Research and development of new products

● Inventory control and product management

● Sales / marketing, and resource management

February 2010 to October 2012 – Dunlop Race Tire Service (Nashville, TN) – Motorcycle Race Tire Supply Regional Technical Specialist & Customer Service/Quality Control

● Assisted management with National event staff training, team product coordination, quality control, customer service, and product support

1991 to 2000 – Motorcycle Racing Announcer & Photographer As an announcer, redefined the expectations for regional race announcers by introducing wireless microphone system, pre and post-race interviews, and pit road interviews, making regional club racers feel like national championship contenders. Also featured in the development a motorcycle video magazine. Wrote race results and copy for misc motorcycle road racing magazines and newspapers, along with supporting race photography. As a professional event announcer, worked at many famed race tracks including Daytona Int’l Speedway, Road Atlanta, Road America, Pocono Raceway, Topeka, Brainerd Int’l Raceway, and more. Feature announcer for Del Mar Mile and Indy Mile Formula USA Dirt Track Series from 2000-2002.

1987 to 1997 – Motorcycle Road Racing

Racer, Tuner/Mechanic, Rider/Team Manager, and Race Announcer Quickly raced to the top of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regional racing ranks. After an injury in 1991, continued racing but shift focus to spend more time assisting and managing other racers and teams with management, and sponsor retention. Received two “Tuner / Mechanic of the Year” awards, and two “Sportsmanship” awards. Led team racers to over 50 regional championship and 19 national championships with CCS, WERA, and NASB. Side note…

Substitute MotoAmerica Superbike Series Race Announcer (after the passing of friend Brian Drebber)

August 2018 – September 2018

The unfortunate news of our friend Brian’s passing was devastating, however, I was honored to get the call to fill his shoes for the final three rounds of racing in the 2018 season at Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Birmingham. I knew Brian well and I could not imagine anyone taking his place. It was all I could do to honor the legacy of a man everyone loved, and keep the “Fun Meter pinned”. RIP

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